US administration under fire over Reach

US president George Bush has mounted a vigorous campaign to water down the EU's proposed Reach chemical policy reform, according to a report released by Democratic congressman Henry Waxman. Compiled by investigators from the US house of representatives, the report details briefing letters in which secretary of state Colin Powell orders US ambassadors in Europe to lobby against Reach. "Industry succeeded in...persuading the administration to intervene to weaken a major environmental initiative in Europe," the report concludes. See the Waxman report.

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